THE FINAL GERMAN OFFENSIVE

The victory over Russia allowed Ludendorff to take the offensive on the
western front in spring 1918. The failure of the submarine offensive and the
imminent arrival of a huge American army made such an effort seem
imperative. Using novel tactics such as brief, precisely targeted barrages
and swift infiltration, the German effort got off to a brilliant beginning. But
as spring turned to summer, the cost of the offensive became unbearable.
Allied defenses hardened, and both the French and British deepened their
defensive lines to absorb and repel enemy attacks. Between July 15 and
August 2, as Ludendorff's troops faced Allied counterattacks on the Mame,
the Germans lost 1 10,000. Allied losses were 1 60,000. The Allies, of course,
could easily replace such losses as American reinforcements arrived, while
the Germans were quickly running out of fighting men.
Thus, the answer to the stalemate was to do what had been done
beforeŚbut more imaginatively and with greater resources. The twin
bloodbaths show how decisively technology had come to favor the defensive
sideŚand how the need to win nonetheless pushed generals and politicians
to attempt to break through the limits of technology and terrain.˝ŕÓ¸Ó˛Ř dle 12.1